After being introduced in Captain America: Civil War to great acclaim, T'Challa, aka Black Panther, got his first solo film in the MCU. Chadwick Boseman reprised the hero role while Ryan Coogler co-wrote and directed the film, which follows T'Challa struggle in his new position as king while a mysterious figure comes to claim the throne.
Black Panther was a massive box office hit and the first MCU film to be nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars. One of the best aspects of the film was how it balanced the fun humor of a superhero movie with some hard-hitting moments that addressed real-world issues. The film is filled with lines that will make you laugh and lines that will make you think.
Funniest: "Did He Freeze?"
In Civil War, T'Challa is seen as a stoic leader compared to some of the other superheroes. But in Black Panther, he is around his friends and family so the movie allows him to be a little looser and fun.
In an early scene, T'Challa is going to intercept a covert mission Nakia is part of so he can bring her back to Wakanda. Knowing the history T'Challa and Nakia have, Okoye teases him not to freeze when he sees her, which he does. When they return to Wakanda, Shuri immediately asks if he froze. Okoye responds, "Like an antelope in headlights."
Powerful: "You're A Good Man With A Good Heart. And It's Hard For A Good Man To Be King."
T'Challa lost his father King T'Chaka during Civil War and now he must step up to the role of King of Wakanda. After securing the throne through combat, T'Challa visits the Ancestral Plane and sees his father in the afterlife.
T'Challa expresses his fear of ruling and asks for advice from his father. T'Chaka tells his son that there will be struggles and that he is a good man, which doesn't always make it easy to be king. This is a fascinating idea and speaks to the mistakes T'Chaka made in his past, which T'Challa discovers later.
Funniest: "Put Some Music On. What Do You Think This Is, A Funeral?"
After appearing briefly in Avengers: Age of Ultron, Ulysses Klaue returns in this film as a secondary villain. Played with manic energy by Andy Serkis, Klaue adds a lot of fun to the movie whenever he appears. He is a madman who seems to like chaos more than things going according to plan.
While doing a deal in South Korea, Klaue tries to avoid being captured by T'Challa, which leads to a car chase. Even with Black Panther on his tail, Klaue wants to have some fun and tells the driver to put some music on.
Powerful: "We Had To Maintain The Lie."
After T'Challa has his first run-in with Erik Killmonger, he goes to his oldest advisor Zuri to learn the truth about this man. Zuri reluctantly tells the story of how T'Chaka killed his brother N'Jobu after he betrayed Wakanda while working covertly in America.
T'Challa asks what they did with N'Jobu's son after his father was killed and Zuri tells him they left him behind. His reasoning was that they needed to maintain the lie about Wakanda's power. T'Challa then realizes the cost of remaining in the shadows.
Funniest: "People Are Shooting At Me — Wait, Let Me Put My Helmet On."
Shuri is one of the standout new characters introduced in the movie. As T'Challa's younger sister, she is one of the smartest people on Earth and responsible for creating Wakanda's incredibly impressive array of gadgets and tech.
When introducing T'Challa to his new and improved outfit, she can't help but ridicule his old costume. Poking fun at the look that was introduced in Civil War, Shuri wisely points out how impractical that helmet really was.
Powerful: "Maybe Your Home's The One That's Lost. That's Why They Can't Find Us."
Killmonger makes for a great MCU villain because it's easy to see his anger. He comes to take the throne of Wakanda, not only for revenge for his father but also because Wakanda has failed to help all the other Africans around the world who are suffering from oppression.
After becoming the new Black Panther, Killmonger visits the Ancestral Plane and sees his father. N'Jobu tells his son he never took him to Wakanda because they would say he was lost. Killmonger points out that maybe it is Wakanda who is lost in their old ways.
Funniest: "Guns. So Primitive."
Unlike many superhero films, including some in the MCU, Black Panther put strong female characters right in the center of the action. The most notable example of this is Okoye, the head of the Dora Milaje and one of Wakanda's most fearsome warriors.
During the car chase with Klaue's crew, the bad guys shoot at the vibranium car. As the bullets bounce off, Okoye shows how unimpressed she is by gun. Then she proceeds to show them how badass she can be with only a spear.
Powerful: "In Times Of Crisis, The Wise Build Bridges While The Foolish Build Barriers."
By the end of the film, T'Challa has come to understand that Wakanda's past of living in the shadows was not right and it's time to reveal themselves to the rest of the world. During the mid-credit scene, T'Challa speaks at the United Nations with powerful words.
He speaks to the importance of the world coming together and helping one another instead of only looking out for themselves. He points to what can be achieved if there is more sharing and less fear.
Funniest: "I'm Kidding. We Are Vegetarians."
Another great new character introduced in the film is M'Baku, the intimidating leader of the Jabari Tribe. He first appears when he challenges T'Challa for the throne but is defeated in combat. After Killmonger takes the throne, T'Challa's family goes to M'Baku for help.
While meeting with the heroes, M'Baku maintains his intimidating demeanor. When American Everett Ross tries to speak, M'Baku threatens to feed him to his children. He then admits "I'm kidding. We are vegetarians." Then he proceeds to giggle at his own joke.
Powerful: "Just Bury Me In The Ocean With My Ancestors Who Jumped From Ships."
T'Challa and Killmonger face off again at the end of the film, which ends as the former stabs the latter. Still sympathizing with this opponent, T'Challa brings Killmonger to see the sunsets his father told him about.
As they sit quietly together, T'Challa tells Killmonger that they can save him. Killmonger refuses, knowing he'll only end up a prisoner if he lives. He tells his cousin, "Just bury me in the ocean with my ancestors who jumped from ships, 'cause they knew death was better than bondage." It's a heartbreaking line as Killmonger pushes the blade deeper, killing himself.